Categories: Car News

If you’re the owner of a “classic” GM car you’re probably familiar with Original Parts Group Inc. and their comprehensive catalogs. We’re talking about models like the Chevelle, El Camino, Cutlass, Skylark, GTO, Monte Carlo, Riviera and even 1954 through 1976 Cadillacs.

[Unfortunately, they have no apparent love—or parts—for my ’89 Olds Custom Cruiser. What’s up with that?]

Anyhoo, on April 1, in celebration of the firm’s 30th year of operation, they are hosting a classic car show at their Seal Beach, Calif., headquarters. Free and open to all, it is certain to feature many of the finest examples of each vehicle line I’ve mentioned, not including—so far as I know—any Custom Cruisers.

Still, it sounds like a heck of an event. But you don’t have to take just MY word(s) for it…

The New York Auto Show gets underway next week, so automakers are taking their last opportunities to get us excited for what they plan to display. Toyota has released a teaser sketch of a sporty, new sedan, which should bring a little more flair to Toyota's line.

By all accounts, Toyota is sick and tired of being the reliable worker bee with a great personality. Japan's biggest automaker also wants to be known for its sportiness and emotion. Exhibit A: The GT 86/Scion FR-S. Exhibit B: New slogans. Exhibit 3: This sedan.

Last Friday Jeep enthusiasts got a taste of three new concepts that will appear during the company’s Easter Safari in Moab, Utah. While the teaser images were hardly satisfying, animated and super zoomed, few could really complain. Jeep appears to be taking the whisperings of a future truck model seriously.

For years now, Jeep execs have made off-hand remarks about the second (or third or fourth) coming of a few classic Jeep models. For example, back in May 2011 and after the very same Easter Jeep Safari event, Mark Allen suggested that he was “a big proponent” of reviving the Cherokee nameplate. And Jeep fans aren’t just interested in the deceased, but beloved Cherokee.

The J-10 has also collected a huge following, and even made notable appearances in films like Twister and Tremors. And let’s not forget the iconic cab-over-engine workhorse Jeep Forward Control (FC) which made a recent TV appearance on My Classic Car. Apparently Jeep has picked up the scent, and decided to listen to the company’s adoring fans.

Perhaps unsurprisingly then, at the 46th annual Easter Jeep Safari Jeep will unveil six new vehicles – three of which will be the Wrangler Apache, Mighty FC concept, and J-12 concept.

Subcompacts have traditionally been good for saving some money up front if you didn't mind enduring a little less power, comfort and prestige. These days, subcompacts not only save you money up front, but their small size and efficient engines save you money on the ever-rising cost of gas. Cars that were once the black sheep of the industry are now kind of cool and relevant.

Well, if you happen to be considering a subcompact, Consumer Reports has ranked its favorites among models redesigned for the 2012 model year.

I’ve got to hand it to you, Supreme Being; you’ve got quite a sense of humor. You hard-wired us to impulsively run from things that want to eat us, yet you made us unable to resist cuddling them when they’re young. Similarly, you’ve instilled a sense of “know-better” when it comes to owning—and doing—extremely dangerous things. Case in point: the six vehicles I’ve selected from Mecum’s end-of-March sale in Kansas City, MO.

Now you’ve (hopefully) read my earlier features on Mecum’s fearsome creatures, from the article on some classic, practical vehicles from the 1940s and 1950s to the article on the more modern yet COMPLETELY impractical ones. Well, that’s all fine and good if you’re just into trucks. But what if you wanted to kill yourself in something that’s more “fast” than “four-by”?

Well, fear not, for I have just what you need. And if you think you’re missing out because you’re only getting one "car" feature, just check out the stats on this dirty half-dozen: 12 doors, 24 wheels, 48 cylinders and a (claimed) grand total of 4,612 horsepower. Sound good? Damn right! So what are you waiting for? Get to jumpin’!

Honda introduced the hybrid drivetrain that underpins the Acura NSX before the NSX itself, so it's not all that surprising that the automaker plans to use the system in more cars than just its upcoming Acura sports flagship. According to a new report, Honda also plans to use the hybrid system in its flagship sedan.

Honda chief Takanobu Ito told Auto News that the redesigned RL sedan will use the same hybrid powertrain as the NSX. In fact, the RL might be the first Acura to get the system, as a redesigned RL is likely to beat the NSX to market. The system will allow for better handling.

BMW has been developing the i8 since it launched it as the Vision EfficientDynamics at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. It showed an updated i8 version at last year's show and plans to have the production version ready for the next Frankfurt show in 2013. In the meantime, it has revealed some of the key specs and details about the production model.

CAR magazine reports that the production i8 will play pretty closely to the concepts. It will be a 2 + 2 design with pop-up doors available exclusively as a plug-in diesel hybrid. It will weigh around 3,200 lbs, thanks to the use of carbon fiber.

During the past few years we saw automakers come together with a sense of urgency. People weren’t buying too many cars and, as a result, we had an advertising cease fire. And then Super Bowl 2012 happened. After a string of successful months, GM thought it prudent to get back on the competitive bandwagon and suggest Ford trucks might not be able to handle the post-apocalyptic world. Since game day we’ve seen the Big Three go back and forth, shedding their recession-induced docility in favor of good ole’ American prizefighting.

In a recent blog post, Dodge spoke loud and clear – claiming the Durango includes Spiderman-like power and responsibility requirements. To the delight of all, Dodge also felt compelled to attach a Ford Explorer to the Durango’s already extensive baggage train.

Ordinarily when things go wrong with a car, an automaker needs to issue a recall, bringing owners in to repair the model. But when that problem only pertains to an ancillary component - say a charging cable - then the automaker can take care of business without inconveniencing owners as much. That's what Chevy is doing for Volt owners in order to improve their charging experience.

Chevy told media this week that it plans to replace the 120V charging cords on all 2011 Volts and some 2012 models. The new cords are designed to offer an improved, more reliable charging experience and sound to be more durable. A company spokesperson was careful to distinguish it as a proactive action and not a recall, when speaking with Inside Line.

Well, it had to do it sometime. Production has already kicked off and the Scion FR-S should be in dealerships within about two months. In fact, first buyers have already gotten the chance to reserve one. So the only thing left to know is how much it will cost. Scion recently released US pricing for the FR-S.

The Scion FR-S is the North American version of Toyota Motor Company's sports car built in cooperation with Subaru. Toyota will sell the car as the 86 or GT 86, but will offer it through the Scion brand in North America. Subaru will sell its own version of the car called the BRZ. All models are being built at Subaru's Gunma plant.

Fisker may be dealing with all kinds of internal turmoil, but it's trying to put on a brave public face. The green start-up released a teaser of its Project Nina sedan this week in anticipation of an event at the New York Auto Show next month.

Fisker didn't specify the exact nature of the event, saying vaguely that it's "a special event ahead of the New York Auto Show to share with media, retailers and the public a business update and give a glimpse of the future of our company." Given that the teaser is clearly a car, we'll assume that "future" is a concept version of the Project Nina sedan.